Combined salt and pepper shakers



NOV- 5, 1957 H. T. PEHR 2,812,115

COMBINED SALT AND PEPPER SHAKERS Filed April l5, 1954 l //////////////////////.///////l//////WWW INVENTOR. Haro/ 19e/W nited Statesy Patent COMBINED SALT AND PEPPER SHAKERS Harold T. Pehr, Kansas City, M0.

Application April 15, 1954, Serial No. 423,325

2 Claims. (Cl. Z22-142.6)

This invention relates to combination salt and pepper shakers and has particular relation to that type of shaker in which either salt or pepper may be dispensed without discharging the other.

One object of this invention is to provide a device of this character in which by manual adjustment either salt or pepper may be dispensed, or the device may be closed against discharge of either condiment.

Another object is to provide a device of this character of very simple construction and having few moving parts.

Another object is to provide such a device which can be easily refilled.

These and other objects will be apparent from the following specifications and drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which a portion of the cap is cut away.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the assembled shaker with the cap in closed position.

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, showing the alternative open positions of the cap.

Figure 4 is a perspective View of the container and cap in separated relation.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the assembled shaker illustrating its operation.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals, the device comprises a container and a cap 11. Container 10 is closed at its base 12, is open at its top and divided into a salt compartment 13 and a pepper compartment 14 by means of a centrally located vertical partition 15. Compartment 11" has several salt dispensing apertures 16 on the curved wall opposite partition 15 and compartment 14 has several pepper dispensing apertures 17 on its curved wall opposite partition 15. The top surfaces of container 10 slope to each side, being higher at partition 15 and sloping downward equally in each direction toward the discharge apertures.

Cap 11 consists of a flat upper plate 18 and integral plugs 19 and 20. Upper plate 18 conforms generally to the shape of container 10 except for lips 21 which extend over the edges of container 10, for ease of removal of cap.

Plugs 19 and 20 fit snugly respectively in the tops of compartments 13 and 14 and serve as closures for the same.

A channel or inverted cradle is formed by the inner shoulder 22 of plug 19, inner shoulder 23 of plug 20 and the underneath surface of plate 18. This channel fits over the top of partition 15, which then serves as a fulcrum upon which cap 11 may rock or tilt from side to side. Since plate 18 is at and the upper surfaces of container 10 slope, it is apparent that cap 11 may rock to either side until further movement is prevented by the undersurface of plate 18 meeting the upper surface of compartment 13 or compartment 14.v

Plugs 19 and 20 have identical outer curved shoulders 24 and 25 respectively, which conform to the inner surfaces of compartments 13 and 14. The depth of shoulders 24 and 25 is such as to extend slightly below the level of the lowest of apertures 16 and 17 when cap 11 is in central position, as best illustrated in Figure 2.

2,812,115 viatented Nov. 5, 1957 It will thus be seen that in the central position of cap 11, plugs 1.9 and 26 block apertures 16 and 17 respectively, and no salt or pepper may escape from either compartment.

To selectively obtain either salt or pepper from the shaker it is necessary merely to rock or press cap 11 toward the opposite compartment. Thus, to obtain pepper, cap 11 is rocked downward toward salt compartment 13. By this action shoulder 24 moves down further blocking apertures 16 and preventing the escape of any salt. Correspondingly, shoulder 25, being on the opposite side of the fulcrum, moves upward, unblocking pepper apertures 17. Conversely to obtain salt, cap 11 is depressed toward pepper compartment 14. Shoulder 25 then blocks pepper apertures and shoulder 24 moves upward, opening salt apertures 16. This is best illustrated in Figure 3 in which the dotted lines show the cap in position to dispense salt and solid lines show cap in position to dispense pepper.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the plugs 19 and 20 are hollow, as best seen in Figure 4. Both cap and container are formed of clear plastic, although glass or other material may be used. The slight resilience of the material permits shoulders 22, 23, 24 and 25 to be verticals and to yield or deform slightly when cap 11 is tilted from side to side so as to maintain a snug fit between plugs and compartments. lf a more rigid material is employed, the shoulders of the plug may taper very slightly inwardly, so as to permit tilting of the cap. Since the range of tilting or rocking movement is small, the taper need be but very little. This permits still maintaining a snug fit which avoids loss or filtering out of the condiment.

To fill the device cap 11 is easily removed by slight pressure on lips 21. The compartments are then filled with the desired condiments and cap is replaced.

For storage or carrying of the device, as for picnics, or lunch baskets, the cap is placed in the central position illustrated in Figure 2 and is secure against moisture or leakage of contents.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A combination salt and pepper shaker comprising a container open at its top, a partition dividing said container into two compartments, each of said compartments being provided with a plurality of discharge apertures in the side wall thereof, a removable cap closing the open top of said container, means for rocking said cap from one side to the other, means integral with said cap blocking the discharge apertures in one compartment when said cap is rocked to one side, blocking the discharge apertures of the other of said compartments when said cap is rocked to the other side, and blocking the discharge apertures of both of said compartments when said cap is in central position.

2. A combination salt and pepper shaker comprising a container open at the top, a vertical partition dividing said container into two compartments, each of said compartments being provided with discharge apertures opposite saidpartition, the top surfaces of said compartments sloping downward equally in each direction from the top of said partition, a removable cap closing the open top of said container and pivoting on the top of said partition, and means integral with said cap for opening and closing said apertures when said cap is pivoted.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,033,688 Fuchs July 23, 1912 1,676,635 Costello July 10, 1928 2,482,327 Dawson et al. Sept. 20, 1949 2,566,004 Von Duyke Aug. 28, 1951 

